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Wednesday, 16 September 2015

'Crazy' Anas Aremeyaw in Accra court over judicial corruption video

Investigative Journalist Anas Aremeyaw who is reputed for disguising in craze costumes on Tuesday stormed the court for the first time following his mind-blowing exposé on massive corruption in the judiciary.

Anas on a mission as an undercover Investigative Journalist in Ghana

He went to the court complex on the High street in Accra at the invitation of the committee investigating the corruption scandal.

Anas was invited for cross-examination in respect of the numerous audio-visual evidences he submitted to the Chief Justice concerning the modus operandi of the alleged corrupt judges.

No Sitting

Unfortunately for Anas, the committee could not sit because one of its members, Nene Amegatcher, was said to be in Kumasi for themongoing ghana Bar association Conference. Like a movie star, Anas’ presence attracted a good number of onlookers, particularly the Judicial service
staff.

He was heavily protected by policemen, some of whom were in mufti. When he arrived at the
court premises, anas and his team from tiger eye Pi headed straight to where the committee was sitting and spent close to an hour there.

Currently, 22 circuit court judges and magistrates have been suspended while 12 superior court judges -mostly at the high courts -are facing possible impeachment for corruption.

Bad Nuts

The 12 high court judges indicted in the video recordings include Justice Paul Dery – who has sued Anas and his company over the expose – Justices Kofi essel Mensah, Charles Quist, John Ajet-Nassam and Ernest Obimpeh.

The high-profile judges have been captured on either video or audio allegedly collecting bribes in
order to give judgements in favour of those who had offered the bribes – and sometimes to the highest bidder.

Unsatisfied with the composition of the Disciplinary Committee of the Judicial Council (JC), 14 of then judges filed a suit at the High Court to challenge the legality of the committee.

The group of circuit court judges and magistrates want a declaration that the disciplinary proceedings by the Judicial Council against them are contrary to law and or due process.

They are also asking the high court to declare that the panel constituted by the Chief Justice to institute disciplinary proceedings against them has no legal basis and therefore null and
void.

Injunction

Meanwhile, on september 22 an accra high court will hear a motion for interlocutory injunction filed by the 14 judges restraining the committee from continuing with its sittings.

The group wants the court to restrain the committee from “continuing with the proceedings instituted by the Judicial Council against the plaintiffs which commenced sitting on september 10, 2015 pending the final determination of the instant action.”

DAILY GUIDE has learnt that the committee had hinted of continuing with its sittings regardless of
any court action. Sources claimed that the committee would continue to sit even in the absence of
the affected judges.

Public Screening

Justice Paul uuter Dery on Monday filed a suit at the Fast track High Court in an attempt to halt the public airing of the video. The suit, among other things, stated that the alleged visual recording, having been unlawfully obtained by Anas, could not be used in any proceedings.

17 For Trial
It later emerged that about 17 out of the 22 circuit court judges and magistrates implicated might be charged before the disciplinary committee. DAILY GUIDE sources hinted that the attorney
general’s (ag’s) representative on the committee was preparing to slap the judges with the charge of corruption and misdemeanour under section 239 sub-sections 1& 2 of the Criminal Code of 1960.